The Jacksonville Jaguars let several players walk in free agency. Some of them managed to land with another team right off the bat, but others had trouble finding a new home. That was the case for Emmanuel Ogbah, who waited for months before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Ogbah signed with the Chiefs just before the first preseason game. His presence allows Kansas City to address its pass-rush depth. Then again, there's a reason the Jags didn't bring him back, and teams weren't in a rush to sign him.
Why the Jaguars didn't bring Emmanuel Ogbah back
The Jaguars signed Emmanuel Ogbah (and Dawuane Smoot) after the 2025 draft. His addition made sense at the time because the Jags needed to round out their pass-rush rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
A second-round pick in 2016, Ogbah spent four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and signed with the Chiefs in 2019. He also played for the Miami Dolphins before landing with the Jags.
Ogbah had a productive stint in Miami, registering 29.5 sacks in 73 games with 43 starts during a five-year span. However, he had trouble making an impact in Jacksonville.
While Ogbah got ample playing time early in the season, he wasn't able to do much with it. As the year progressed, he was phased out in favor of then-rookies Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy ended up registering just 0.5 sacks, appearing in 13 games with three starts with the Jags.
Now, Ogbah joins a pass rush rotation that includes Feli Anudike-Uzomah, George Karlaftis, and rookie R Mason Thomas.
The Jaguars pass rush is in good shape without Emmanuel Ogbah
One reason the Jaguars didn't make an attempt to bring back Emmanuel Ogbah is that Danny Striggow and B.J. Green II flashed last year. They have more upside at this stage of their respective careers, and both of them are expected to be part of the rotation next season.
Green, in particular, has been a standout in training camp. Coupled with a strong showing from rookie Zach Durfee, the Jacksonville pass rush is in good shape.
That said, perhaps the Jags weren't a good fit for Ogbah, and maybe he can enjoy a late-career revival with the Chiefs, the team where he won a Super Bowl in 2019. Either way, the Jaguars no longer have room for him with Striggow and Green in the mix.
Still, it's still encouraging to see Emmanuel Ogbah get a chance to keep his NFL career going.
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